January 9-11, 2025 in Houston!
We hope to see you in Houston! It is a weekend packed with everything from educational sessions to networking opportunities. For an idea of what an SDI includes, you can browse the 2025 Student Development Institute Tentative Schedule.
Session descriptions and a program book will be shared closer to the event.
Educational Program Overview
SDI includes multiple experiences – concurrent sessions for advisors and students, keynote speaker, networking, and connections. More detailed information will be coming soon.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
We are looking forward to welcoming you to Houston! We’d like to invite you and your student(s) to enrich your conference experience by submitting an educational session proposal. Don’t miss this rewarding opportunity to share creative ideas and expertise with conference attendees.
The process to submit an educational proposal is simple and details can be found below. You can also reach out directly to sarah.splinter@wisc.edu with any questions.
- Determine presenters
- Select an educational track
- Decide on a session format
- Share your vision and outline
- Determine Presenters
Gather your team! Undergraduate students, graduate students, and professional staff members are eligible to submit session proposals. Presenters can be from the same institution or different institutions. If you’re open to presenting with another institution, you can note this on your proposal submission! Please encourage your students to submit a proposal to present. If you are not sure what students will be attending SDI, consider submitting a proposal on your institution’s behalf. Once you identify your student attendees, you can help them practice and train for the presentation!
- Select an Educational Session Track
- Ambassador & Tour Guide Training
- Tour Technicalities
- Strengthening Your Team
- Beyond the Tour
- Diversity & Social Justice
- Tour Guide Transferables
- Advisor-Specific Topics
Learn more about our educational session tracks and tips to submitting a proposal
Timeline for Proposal Submission
- Submit a session proposal at this link
- Early Decision Deadline: August 5, 2024-September 30, 2024 (notification mid-October)
- Regular Decision Deadline: October 1, 2024-October 25, 2024 (notification mid-November)
- If your session proposal is selected, you will both be notified via email in mid-November.
- Institutions must register and pay the SDI registration fee by Monday, December 2, 2024 to confirm participation. Presenters are paid neither honoraria nor expenses.
Keynote Speaker – Eboné F. Bell
Eboné F. Bell (she/her/hers) is a visionary speaker and trailblazer illuminating the realms of DEI, leadership, entrepreneurship, and activism. Widely recognized as the founder and former editor of Tagg Magazine, an award-winning print publication and media company dedicated to serving LGBTQ women across the nation.
Campus Tours
Experience Houston your way! Choose a traditional campus tour to gain insight into how another university welcomes prospective students and visitors or visit Space Center Houston to gain insight in how the facility welcomes over 1.3 million visitors a year. Experience how the facility tells the story about NASA’s long history of space exploration. This is a great team building opportunity for you and your students as well as a chance for them to network with ambassadors from other universities.
Campus tours are included in the conference registration fee. Space Center Houston tickets are $35 to cover the cost of admission charges.
In addition to campus tours or the NASA Space Center, CIVSA will be hosting educational workshops for students and advisors who decide to not participate in these experiences.
These tours can be added at the time of registration or at a later date. All members of your group do not have to attend the same experience – each attendee can choose one of the options since all activities occur during the same time frame. Transportation is included for all tours. Attraction fees are non-refundable.
Houston Experience Options
Rice University Campus Tour (SOLD OUT): Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus, Rice University is a world class institution located just outside of downtown Houston. It is known for its distinctive residential college system, which fosters a strong sense of community and belonging. It offers a diverse range of experiential learning opportunities, including research, internships, and study abroad programs. Rice University is home to seven schools of study, providing a wide array of academic disciplines, interdisciplinary programs, and award-winning faculty for students to connect with. With an emphasis on collaboration and a Culture of Care, Rice University is nationally ranked for “Best Quality of Life.” No additional fee required.
University of Houston Campus Tour: Founded in 1927, the University of Houston is the largest public research university in Houston and one of the largest universities in Texas.The University of Houston strives to provide affordable and accessible education to a diverse student body, including first-generation college students. UH offers over 250 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a wide range of disciplines, including business, engineering, education, health, law and the arts. No additional fee required.
University of St. Thomas Campus Tour: The University of St. Thomas (UST) is Houston’s Catholic University, committed to the religious, ethical, and intellectual traditions of Catholic higher education. For more than 75 years, we’ve been graduating students into successful careers in medicine, education, business, public administration and more – throughout Houston and across the globe. Our student body reflects the rich diversity of the city itself. We welcome undergraduate and graduate students of all faiths and backgrounds. The campus is located in Houston’s Museum District and Innovation Corridor, a diverse and vibrant urban environment with professional opportunities. We’re just steps from downtown and the famed Texas Medical Center where many students perform prestigious internships. We can’t wait to showcase our campus and why it is so special to the Houston community. No additional fee required.
Space Center Houston (SOLD OUT): Space Center Houston is a premier science and space exploration learning center. As Houston’s leading attraction and the top destination for international visitors in the region, the facility proudly serves as the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center and a Smithsonian Affiliate. Since opening its doors in 1992, the spaces has welcomed over 26.6 million guests and continue to inspire nearly 1.3 million visitors annually. Discover over 400 space artifacts, immersive exhibits, and captivating experiences that celebrate the rich history and exciting future of America’s human space-flight program. Our offerings are designed to engage and educate visitors of all ages, sparking wonder and fueling dreams. $35 non-refundable registration fee required.
Our host hotel is the Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria, located at 2222 West Loop South, Houston, Texas. Rooms will be $149 + tax per night for single or double occupancy ($159/night + tax for triple occupancy and $169/night + tax for quadruple occupancy). The last day to book a room in our block will be December 26, 2024 or when the block fills, whichever comes first. The reservation link to book rooms will be included in your registration confirmation email.
The hotel is located in the lively Uptown neighborhood and within minutes of the Galleria Mall, Rice University, Memorial Park, the Houston Zoo, and other top-rated attractions. The Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria features beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, on-site dining options, a fitness center, an outdoor pool and jacuzzi.
Self-parking: $32.00 per day
Valet parking: $42.00 per day
Airport Info:
Houston is served by two major airports – George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). Find information about both at https://www.fly2houston.com.
Consider becoming a CIVSA Member before registering for conference to take advantage of member-institution rates. Members also have access to apply for Conference Scholarships by established deadlines.
| Member Institution | Non-Member Institution | |
| Early Registration: August 5 – 31 | $139/person | N/A |
| Regular Registration: September 1 – October 31 | $179/person | $209/person |
| Late Registration: November 1 – December 1 | $219/person | $249/person |
| Houston Experience (NASA Space Center Ticket and Transportation) – $35/person |
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| *Note: Non-member institutions should register at the member rate and will be emailed an invoice for the difference in price |
Professional staff members must bring at least one student in order to attend.
Students must be accompanied by at least one professional staff member.
Typical maximum attendance is two staff and six students per institution.
Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is a maximum capacity for this event and registration will close when we reach that capacity.
Please choose the number of student attendees carefully, as refunds will not be made should you choose to bring fewer students and there may not be space to accommodate additional students should you decide to add them at a later date. Names of all attendees (both students and staff) will be due by December 2.
Full payment is expected at the time of registration. If unable to pay by credit card, all registrations must be paid in full by December 15, 2024. Registration fees are non-refundable.
Transferring registration: A registration may be transferred for the same conference to another professional staff member or student from the same institution by writing to civsaHQ@civsa.org. If a registration transfer is requested after December 8, 2024, the change will not be reflected in the conference program book or conference app.
For entire-institution cancellation requests on or before December 1, 2024: A credit for all fees paid, less a $25 administrative fee, will be issued if requested in writing by December 1, 2024. The registration credit has no cash value, and is valid for the 2026 CIVSA Student Development Institute only. Cancellation requests must be submitted to civsaHQ@civsa.org.
Guest Policy: Given the purpose of the Student Development Institute, there are no guests allowed. Only registered attendees will be able to participate in any formal programming including educational sessions, meals, and closing dinner.
Click here to view commonly asked questions and answers about CIVSA’s Student Development Institute. Should you have any additional questions, please email La Dawn Duvall.